Chapter 33

The sun was beginning to set over the Midnight Crown territory, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. Lyra stood at the edge of the forest, her arms crossed as she stared out at the distant horizon. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, a grounding presence amidst the weight of what lay ahead. She knew this moment was coming—had known it since the end of the battle—but that didn't make it any easier.

Behind her, she heard footsteps. Deliberate, hesitant. She didn't need to turn to know it was Darius. His scent, once so familiar and comforting, now carried the bittersweet tang of regret and the echoes of a life she had left behind.

"You came," Lyra said, her voice steady as she kept her gaze on the horizon.

"I didn't think you'd agree to see me," Darius admitted, stopping a few paces behind her.

Lyra turned to face him, her expression calm but unreadable. He looked different—humbled, perhaps. The usual arrogance in his posture was gone, replaced by a tentative uncertainty. His amber eyes, once so confident, now searched hers for something she wasn't sure he'd find.

"You asked," Lyra said simply. "And I've spent too much time running from the past. I'm done with that."

Darius nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I don't know where to start," he said after a moment. "There's so much I need to say, but none of it feels like enough."

"Then start with why," Lyra said, her tone sharper than she intended. "Why did you reject me? Why was I never enough for you?"

Her words hung heavily in the air, and Darius flinched as if struck. He ran a hand through his hair, his shoulders slumping under the weight of her question.

"I was a fool," he said quietly. "I thought I knew what I wanted—a mate who matched my ambition, who fit the image I had in my head of what a Beta's mate should be. You were... different. Quieter. Stronger in ways I didn't understand. And instead of trying to see that, I pushed you away."

Lyra's chest tightened, her wolf stirring uneasily. She had spent years carrying the weight of his rejection, questioning her worth and trying to prove to herself that she was more than what he had made her feel. Hearing his regret now stirred a mix of emotions she couldn't quite name.

"You didn't just push me away," she said, her voice trembling. "You shattered me, Darius. You made me believe I was nothing—unworthy, broken. Do you know how long it took me to put myself back together?"

Darius looked up at her, his amber eyes filled with anguish. "I know," he said softly. "And I'll never forgive myself for what I did to you. Seeing you now—seeing what you've become—it only makes me realize how blind I was. You were always extraordinary, Lyra. I was just too afraid to see it."

Lyra stared at him, her emotions a whirlwind of anger, sorrow, and something softer—something that felt dangerously close to pity. She had wanted this moment for so long, had dreamed of confronting him and making him feel the pain he had caused her. But now, standing before him, all she felt was... tired.

"I don't need your guilt," she said finally, her tone weary. "I don't need your apologies or your regret. They don't change anything. I've moved on, Darius. I've found a place where I belong—a pack that sees me for who I am. A mate who values me."

Darius's jaw tightened at her words, but he didn't argue. Instead, he nodded slowly, his gaze dropping once more. "I'm glad," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You deserve that. And more."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of their shared history hanging between them. Lyra took a deep breath, the tension in her chest beginning to ease. She had expected this confrontation to be painful, but instead, it felt like letting go of a burden she hadn't realized she was still carrying.

"Goodbye, Darius," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

Darius looked up, his expression a mix of sorrow and gratitude. "Goodbye, Lyra," he said. "And thank you—for giving me this chance."

With that, he turned and walked away, his figure fading into the shadows of the forest. Lyra watched him go, a strange sense of peace settling over her. She had faced the wolf who had once defined her pain, and now, she was free of him.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lyra turned back toward the fortress. Kaelen was waiting for her at the edge of the courtyard, his silver eyes warm and steady. He didn't need to ask how it went—he could see it in the way her shoulders had relaxed, the way her steps carried her with newfound confidence.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly as she reached him.

Lyra nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I am now."